Service Dog Training
We provide service and support to our community through the training of service dogs. Our service dogs go to men and women, (military or civilian), who experience MST/PTSD, need balance and mobility mitigation and/or retrieval and wheelchair assistance. The majority of our dogs come from rescue situations or are donated to Sirius K9 for consideration as service dogs. Before training begins for any of our dogs, all are assessed thoroughly for the proper temperament and health required to be considered for training as a service dog.
Unique to our service dog training program, we also will consider training a dog who already belongs to the owner needing disability mitigation. Dogs considered for this program should be between the ages of 2 and 5 years of age, in good health and already demonstrate solid basic obedience, reliable and appropriate temperament, and solid social skills. Sirius K9 requires that a basic obedience course of 6-8 weeks be completed before an assessment for service dog consideration is made. We begin with an initial evaluation and series of 3 separate assessments of the dog (and handler) to determine suitability for service dog training. If it is determined that the team is suitable, a training time of approximately 4-8 months will be determined. During this time period, the dog will stay at Sirius K9 and receive full time, daily training. At the conclusion of the training period, the service dog and handler will be trained for about two weeks as a team. Once the team has demonstrated readiness for working independently, a comprehensive Public Access Test is administered to conclude the training process and to qualify the team's readiness for public access as an educated and prepared service dog team.
Understandably, not all dogs are suited for service dog work and completion of a basic obedience course does not insure that a dog will perform successfully during training or be able to handle the responsibilities of service dog work as training progresses.
If you are in need of a service dog, have a dog that you would like to have assessed for service dog work, please click on the link below and fill out the evaluation request form and we will contact you within two to four business days upon receipt of your request.
